Ski-binding



May 12, 1970 T. G. sMoLKA ET A L 3,511,516

SKI-BINDING 2 Sheets-Sheet .2A

Filed April 12, 1968 United States Patent O 3,511,516 SKI-BINDING Thomas G. Smolka and Johann Zelinka, Vienna, Austria,

assignors to Wiener Metallwarenfabrik Smolka &

Co., Mauer, Austria Filed Apr. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 720,886 Claims priority, application Austria, Apr. 20, 1967, A 3,748/67 Int. Cl. A63c 9/081 U.S. Cl. 280-11.35 11 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A safety ski binding in which the ski is released from the ski boot in response to development of predetermined pressures and initially turns in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the boot sole and about an axis normal to these planes. Anti-friction means is interposed between the facing surfaces of the ski and the boot sole and facilitates turning movement of the ski about the aforementioned axis to reduce delays in the separation of the ski from the boot.

The invention refers to a ski binding (toe jaw, rear clamping means or the like) which assures a freedom of the ski boot in case of an over load. Said invention is characterized in that for releasing the ski boot there are provided movable parts which reduce the friction or maintain the friction constant, respectively, and which interact with the sole of the boot. The parts reducing the friction or maintaining same constant, respectively, can be provided on the ski or an a part of the binding.

In a special embodiment the parts reducing the friction or maintaining same constant, respectively, are sleeves which are movably mounted on a bent piece of material pivoted on the ski binding. Preferably the axes of the sleeves are arranged to lie radially `with respect to one point.

Further the parts reducing the friction or maintaining same constant, respectively, can be provided in the form of thrust bearings which substantially comprise two plates which are movable relatively to each other; in use one of these plates lies against the sole of the boot. Between said plates there are provided balls, cylindrical rolls, conical rolls or the like.

In the drawing the object of the invention by way of example is shown in several embodiments, in which:

FIG. 1 is the holding of a ski boot on the ski;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are in corresponding projections cross sections of the part reducing the friction or maintaining same constant, respectively, according to the invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are a further embodiment in corresponding projections;

FIG. 6 is an embodiment similar to the FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 again are an embodiment in corresponding projections;

FIG. 9 is a side view of parts reducing the friction or maintaining same constant, respectively, arranged on a part of a ski binding; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the part reducing the friction or maintaining same constant, respectively, arranged on a part of the ski binding.

By FIG. 1 it is ascertained that the ski boot 4 with its sole 10 is secured to the ski 5 between parts of the binding, for instance a rear clamping means 9' and a toe jaw 12. In case of a sudden twisting fall the boot 4, with regard to the ski 5, is turned out of the parts 9 and 12 of the ski binding. Depending on the manner in which the parts 9 and 12 of the binding are designed ice the boot -will be turned either around the top of the sole or around an axis in the area of the heel. In order to secure that the boot is freed safely, in accordance with the invention there are provided one or several parts 13, 14 reducing the friction or maintaining same constant, respectively, between the ski boot and the ski or a part of the ski binding (as will be explained later on).

According to the construction of FIGS. 2 and 3 such a part reducing the friction or maintaining same constant, respectively, consists of two plates 15, 16, wherebetween balls 17 are arranged. The plate 16 is rigidly connected with the ski or a part of the ski binding; the plate 15 can be turned around the axis 8 with regard to the plate 16; for a good sealing the plate 15 clasps the plate 16 from below. Both the plates have concentric Ways 20 wherein the balls are rolling in case of said turning. The turning centre 8 is provided on the ski or on the binding, respectively, about in that area in which the boot is turned in case of safety freeing. Of course the balls can be surrounded by a cage, as is known per se.

In the embodiment according to the FIGS. 4 and 5 rolls 18 are provided which are arranged between the plates 15 and 16 in straight ways 21. These rolls are separated from each other by a cage 24. This embodiment will be arranged 4beneath the sole of the boot as far as possible distant from the turning axis of the boot in case of safety freeing.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 6 the Ways 22 are segmentally shaped and concentric to a point 8. This point is identical with the turning axis of the boot in case of safety freeing. Of course, in this embodiment the rolls must be conical as must be the ways 22 for the rolls 19.

In the embodiments -described it had to be considered where the turning axis of the boot was situated in case of safety freeing. In the constructions according to the FIGS. 7 and 8 the plates 15 and 16 each have a clearance 23; in said clearance balls 17 are arranged separated by a cage 24. The plate 15 can be displaced and turned With regard to the plate 16 in any direction in one plane.

`Of course the constructions according to the FIGS. 4 to 8 are designed in such a manner that the inner sides of the plates 15 and 16 and thus also the balls 17 and the rolls 18, 19 carried therein are protected Ifrom outside. Advantageously the plates 15 Will clasp the plates 16 from beneath as shown in the FIGS. 2 and 3.

Said part reducing the friction or maintaining same constant do not need unconditionally to be fixed on the ski; they can be provided also on a part of the binding. A construction of this kind is shown in the FIGS. 9 and 10. According to FIG. 9 a rear clamping means 9 is 'arranged on the ski 5; said means carries a clamping part 1 which interacts with the sole 10 of the boot. In FIG. 9 the position of normal use is shown in full lines. The heel and the back part of the sole, respectively, is secured tothe ski 5 by the clamping part 1. Between the sole 10 and the ski 5 is provided an extension 2 in the form of a bent piece of material which has a ring 6 on its front end. A holding or catching strap 3 is drawn through the ring 6 and is strung around the ski boot in a known manner. The bent piece 2 is pivoted to the clamping part 1 at 11.

The rear clamping means 9 with its clamping part 1 is constructed in the manner of a safety binding. -In case of an over load, for instance at a sudden fall in a forward direction the ski boot is lifted as shown by the dotted lines. Thus the ski boot 4 is freed from the binding; however, there is still the required connection through the bent piece 2 and the catching strap 3. Elastic retracting forces are provided neither in the bent piece 2 nor in the catching strap 3. Therefore it must not be apprehended that the ski is thrown after by the effect of a spring after the fall. Anyway the ski is connected with the ski boot in such a manner that it cannot get away. Of course the bent piece is long enough as to allow the sole to be freed of the clamping part 1 in case of safety freeing. Freeing is facilitated by the bent piece 2 being pivoted at 11.

On the bent piece Z four sleeves 7 are provided, rotatably. The axes of the sleeves 7 are arranged to cross in the point 11. In case of safety freeing by the toe jaw (which is not shown) the boot is turned around the point 8; said turning is facilitated by the parts 7 reducing the friction or maintaining same constant, respectively. If said part 7 reducing the friction or maintain same constant, respectively, 'are missing it can occur that the boot is not released in the right time and injuries can be caused.

' The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. Of course, one of the constructions according to the FIGS. 2 to 8 could be larranged also on the bent piece 2 of FIG. 10 instead of the sleeves 10. It is possible also to provide the sleeves 7 rotatably on the ski directly. In general it can be said that within the scope of the invention a plurality of constructive possibilities is available. For instance a pin bearing can be provided instead of the ball-bearing or the roller bearing. Two plates sliding one on the other and made of a frictionfree material (for instance of Teflon) can be used, too. For the embodiments according to the FIGS. 4 to 8 advantageously elastic means will be provided, for instance springs, rubber bands or the like, which always will tend to maintain the individual parts in an intermediate position or to reset same after any movement, respectively. lt is sufi'icient if the force of said elastic means will be low; said force must be as strong only as to safely reset the means or to retain same, respectively.

We claim:

1. In a safety ski binding of the type which releases the ski from the ski boot in response to development of predetermined pressures resulting from a fall or analogous occurrence, so that the ski may initially turn in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the boot sole and about an axis normal to said planes, the improvement comprising a first plate member mounted on an upper face of said ski; a second plate member `adapted to be contacted by the lower face of said boot sole and overlying said first plate member and being connected only to the same for turning movementrelative thereto about an axis of rotation; and a plurality of anti-friction elements conlined between and contacting only said plate members for rolling movement therebetween.

2. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, said anti-friction elements comprising a plurality of antifriction bearing balls.

3. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, said anti-friction bearing elements comprising a plurality of anti-friction rolling elements.

4. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, said plate members having respective juxtaposed surfaces deiining between each other ways in which said anti-friction elements are received and confined for rolling movement in response to relative turning of said piate members about said axis of rotation.

S. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 4, said ways being circular and concentric with said axis, and said anti-friction elements being bearing balls.

6. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 4, said ways being linear and said anti-friction elements bein-g rolling elements of cylindrical configuration.

7. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 4, said ways comprising 'a plurality of arcuately curved segments concentric with said axis, and said anti-friction elements being rolling elements of conical configuration which taper in cross-section in direction towards sai-d axis.

8. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 1, said plate members having respective juxtaposed surfaces defining between each other a substantially circular clearance, said anti-friction elements being bearing balls received in said clearance; and further comprising cage means also received in said clearance and separating said bearing balls from one another with freedom of individual turning movement in all directions in the general plane of said clearance.

9. In a safety ski binding of the type which includes a plurality of boot holding components and releases the to said planes, the improvement comprising a shaped rod element pivotally connected to one of said boot holding components and normally located between the lower face of the boot sole and the upper face of the ski, and means secured to and carried by said rod element for facilitating turning movement of the ski about said axis so as to reduce delays in the separation of the ski from the boot.

10. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 9, said means comprising a plur-ality of sleeve members mounted for free rotation on said rod element surrounding portions thereof and being located between and in contact with said faces.

11. In a safety ski binding as defined in claim 10, said rod element comprising a plurality of mutually inclined sections having respective axes all of which converge in and extend radially of common point, and said sleeve members comprising at least a corresponding plurality of sleeve members each provided on and surrounding a portion of one of said sections 4and rotatable about an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of the respective section, so that the axes of rotation of the respective sleeve members also converge in said common point.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,745 ,672' 5/ 1956 Meier.

3,079,163 2/ 1963 DeBeausacq.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,358,624 3/ 1964 France.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner 

